See this at: health.usnews.com| Added on 05/22/09

By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Babies delivered by elective, repeat cesarean section delivery are nearly twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than those born vaginally... See more

By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Babies delivered by elective, repeat cesarean section delivery are nearly twice as likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than those born vaginally after the mother has previously had a c-section, a new study finds. These c-section babies are also more likely to have breathing problems requiring supplemental oxygen, the researchers say. "In addition, the cost of the birth for both mother and infant was more expensive in the elective repeat c-section group compared to the vaginal birth after c-section (VBAC) group," noted Dr. Beena Kamath, the study's lead author and a clinical instructor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver. The study appears in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Nationwide, the c-section delivery rate keeps rising. According to the study authors, by 2006, 31.1 percent of deliveries in the United States were done this way.... See less

See this at: vbacfacts.com| Added on 05/01/09

“As long as you are of legal age and able to think clearly, logically, and coherently for yourself, you should never cede that responsibility [to make your own health decisions] to anyone else - not your doctor, not your friends, not to your family,... See more

“As long as you are of legal age and able to think clearly, logically, and coherently for yourself, you should never cede that responsibility [to make your own health decisions] to anyone else - not your doctor, not your friends, not to your family, not to the heath gurus, and especially not the media. Unlike many among the health police force, I believe that you are easily smart enough to evaluate the news. You really have no choice. People are finally realizing that they cannot trust the health industry machine anymore. That means you must come to rational, intelligent decision based on the best that science has to offer” - From Eat, Drink, & Be Merry by Dean Edell, MD The Big Picture The risk of uterine rupture (UR) after one “bikini cut” cesarean is 0.4% or 1 in 250. (Landon 2004) Risk of miscarriage from an amniocentesis is 5 - 20 times greater than the risk of infant death or injury from a VBAC. (March of Dimes, Landon 2004) A repeat cesarean section (RCS) lowers your risk of UR... See less

See this at: youtube.com| Added on 04/03/09

photos of my two births

photos of my two births See less

See this at: poughkeepsiejournal....| Added on 03/30/09

Two weeks before Kristi Ashley gave birth to a son in 2007, an ultrasound exam estimated the baby at a hefty 12 pounds, 10 ounces — too big, her doctor believed, for a safe vaginal delivery. After the child weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces in the... See more

Two weeks before Kristi Ashley gave birth to a son in 2007, an ultrasound exam estimated the baby at a hefty 12 pounds, 10 ounces — too big, her doctor believed, for a safe vaginal delivery. After the child weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces in the delivery room, Ashley came to believe that the planned cesarean section she had, with its attendant pain, long recovery and what she called "emotional damage," may have been a rush to judgment. "It's very hard to go up against your physician, especially at the 12th hour," said Ashley, 38, of Hopewell Junction. "I think doctors are very quick these days to get scared. They would rather opt for the surgical solution." Determined to avoid another surgical birth and aided by a supportive doctor, hospital and birthing coach, Ashley last month did something that has become increasingly rare for post-cesarean women today: She gave birth vaginally, to another son. In an era of soaring malpractice premiums, technology that sometimes sets off false... See less

See this at: kaboodle.com| Added on 02/03/07

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See this at: birthtruth.org| Added on 02/20/07

Too often lately, I've heard from or about women who had a successful VBAC a few years ago but now are being told that "it isn't as safe as we thought" or even that they can't have another one, but rather have to schedule another cesarean. Obviously,... See more

Too often lately, I've heard from or about women who had a successful VBAC a few years ago but now are being told that "it isn't as safe as we thought" or even that they can't have another one, but rather have to schedule another cesarean. Obviously, if these women are being pushed into repeat cesareans, the woman who hasn’t yet had a VBAC is going to be even more out of luck. Usually, they are told something about how the rupture risk is actually higher than originally thought; the hospital can't do the emergency cesarean as quickly as it needs to be done now, etc. Here are a few things to consider when you are told “VBAC isn’t as safe as we thought it was”: First, while there isn't a lot of formal study on it, what research there is shows that if you have 1 VBAC with no rupture, your chances of having a rupture with a subsequent VBAC are extremely low (and usually associated with induction and instrumental delivery). So, basically, you've already "proven" your scar/uterus (I hate the... See less

See this at: birthtruth.org| Added on 02/20/07

If you are looking for help in writing a birth plan, you have many resources available to you. There are example plans in print and on line, there are interactive programs you can access at any number of websites and you can sit down with your... See more

If you are looking for help in writing a birth plan, you have many resources available to you. There are example plans in print and on line, there are interactive programs you can access at any number of websites and you can sit down with your Childbirth Educator or Doula and work one out. I have a slightly different take on how to put together a birth plan… First, consider resources. Or better yet, don't. Rather, imagine that you have all the money you could need, complete and unconditional support from every person you know and access to the caregiver of your first choice. In other words, you have no constraints on your physical or emotional resources as you plan your VBAC. If this were true, what birth would you plan? You don't have to worry about cost - so where would you birth? At home? At a birth center? At hospital? In the warm tropical waters off of some deserted island, with dolphins? Seriously, where would be the perfect place for you to birth? Remember, you can go anywhere... See less

See this at: birthtruth.org| Added on 02/20/07

I hear a lot of women comment on their VBAC hopes and fears, often after they’ve been searching for someone to attend their next birth. Here are some of the comments, questions and my responses and rants over the years.

I hear a lot of women comment on their VBAC hopes and fears, often after they’ve been searching for someone to attend their next birth. Here are some of the comments, questions and my responses and rants over the years. See less